Court rules that the 'black cab' cannot be trademarked

Updated
Uber licence
Uber licence

The London Taxi Company suffered a blow yesterday, after a High Court judge ruled against its attempt to trademark the traditional black cab. The case was brought to court as rival firm Ecotive launched its latest Metrocab design, leading LTC to attempt to block its production.

Justice Arnold, presiding, ruled last year that the shape of the black cab was not a 'valid registered trademark', with Lord Justice Kitchin and Lord Justice Floyd upholding the ruling this week. Justice Floyd added that the shape of Ecotive's new Metrocab is 'strikingly different' to LTC's own TX5.

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